Convertible closure



Mayl, 1932. BOKAN 1,8648

CONVERTIBLE CLOSURE May 31, 1932. F BOKAN 1,8609648 CONVERTIBLE CLOSURE Filed July 28, 1928 2 SheebS-Sheet 2 9 INVENTOR.'

Patented May' 31, 1932 BOKAN, F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI convnnmrr: cLosUnE Aippllcationled July 28 1928. Serial No. 295,911.

My invention relates to convertible closures, and, has for its object to provide a closure, such for instance as a door, a window,

a transom closure, or the like, that is a dis- .'5 tinct and practical improvement to overcome certain practical objections to, and defects in, convertible closures for ycasing or frame openings of the present constructions.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide a closure structure which can be readily converted from a paneled storm door, or similar structure into a screen door, or similar structure, and vice versa,

without the removal of any of the parts thereof, or disfguring the structure in any way,thus embodying in a single'closure, the utility and benefits which would otherwise require the use of two separate closures to a single casing, or frame opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door, or similar structure whereby the upper half thereof may be converted from a closed panel structure to a combined panel and screen structure, or vice versa, and whereby thelower half thereof can also be converted from a closed panel structure to a combined panel and screen vstructure and `vice versa.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a convertible closure which possesses advantages in points of simplicity and eiciency, and, at the same time proves itself comparatively inexpensive in cost of manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the claimhereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the inside of a convertible door embodying the features of my invention and illustrated as a paneled storm door admitting light through glass panels, a part of said door being broken vertically disposed glass panels 18 'and 19 members.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the door taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the door taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a, view in elevation of the inside of the door and illustratin the immovable members thereof in their anged positions as when said door is being used as a screen door to admit the entrance of both light and the exclusion of insects'.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the door taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the door takenon line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

In carrying out the aim of my present invention, I employ ,a closure frame, as illustrated in the drawings for sake of conven- \`away to clearly illustrate a pair of latch ience only, as a door frame 1, which includes a top cross rail 2, a bottom cross rail 4,- an intermediate cross rail 3 and a pair of stile members designated 5 and l6, which rovides the frame with an upper opening and a lower opening 8.

Positioned in the upper opening 7 of the frame 1 is a iixed outer frame 9 havingthe spaced vertically disposed glass panels 10 and 11, the opening 12 between the two glass panels l() and 11, and the wire mesh screen panel 13 adjacent the glass panel 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

An inside frame 14 is slidably mounted for sideway movement in the opening 7 and it is held against inward displacement by means of the upper and lower guide strips 15 and 16, respectively, which strips are fixed tothe upper and intermediate cross rails respectively, and to the stile members 5 and 6 by means of suitable fastening devices, such for instance as screws 17 and 17'-, respectively. The slidable frame 14; is provided withY the spaced and with the wire mesh screen panel 20 which is disposed between the two lass panels 18 and 19, as clearly shown in igs. 1 andv 2. The slidable frame 14 is removable from the upper opening 7 of the closure frame 1. This 100 lower e ge of the upper cross rail 2 with is made ossible by providing a portion of the a recess 2 of a length ual, or a little greater than the width of e slidable frame 14, whereby to permit the slidable frame 14 to be raised when in its extreme right hand position, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to allow the lower edge of the slidable frame 14 to be elevoted above the upper edge of the ide strip 16 and then moved away and o wardly from the outer fixed frame 9. This arrangement permits the cleaning of the inner surface of the glass panel v11 and also permits the cleanin of the inner faces of the glass panels 18 an 19, whereas cleaning of only the inner face of the glass panel 18 would be possible when the slidable frame 14 is mounted in the opening 7 of the frame l 1. This arrangement also permits of the slidable frame 14 being removed when it is desired to pass articles through the opening 12 and conversing through the opening without opening the c osure roper.

It will be here o served, that when the sliding frame 14 is in the position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that the upper end of the closure is in the nature of a closed panel door, permittin of the entrance of li ht only into a room, w ereas, when the slida le frame 14 is moved to its extreme left hand position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 the closed panel door is converted into a combined panel and screen door, which will permit of both light and the circulation of air through the wire mesh screen panels 13 and 20, and light only through the opposed glass panels 10 and 18, and 11 and 19.

Positioned in the lower opening 8 of the frame 1 is an outer fixed frame 21 having panel sections 22, 23 and 24, the horizontally disposed openings 25 and 26, and the spaced wire mesh screen panel 27 spaced above the opening 25.

An inside frame 28 is slidably mounted for vertical movement in the opening 8 of the closure frame 1, and it is held in position against inward displacement by means of the two side guide strips 29 and 30, which guide strips are lixed to the stile members 5 and 6 by means of suitable fastenin devices, such for instance, as screws 31 an 31', respectively. The inside vertically slidable frame 28 is provided with the s aced Wire mesh screen panels 32 and 33 an the panel members 34, 35 and 36.

The slidable frame 28 is held in its uppermost position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of two latch members, each designated 37, which are pivoted at their lower ends, as at 38 to the stile members 5 and 6. The latch members 37 are each receivable in recesses 39 in the stile members 5 and 6 adjacent the upper side edges of the vertically slidable frame 28. Each latch member 37 is provided with a head portion 40 and a shoulder 41. The

shoulderh 41 of the latch members 87 are each adapted to normally engage the shoulders 42 ormed by the cutout portions 43 in the side edges of the vertically slidable frame 28 near the upper ends thereof. Each latch `member 37 is held in its .normally closed position by means of a spring member 44 which causes the heads 40 of the latch members 37 to extend into the s ace 45 between the upper edge of the vertica ly slidable frame 28 and the lower edge of the intermediate cross rail 3 of the closure frame 1.

It will be here observed that when the ver-y tically slidable frame 28 is in its u permost position, as 4shown in Fi s. 1 and 2, the panels 34 and 35 will be positioned opposite the screen panel 27 and the o ening 25, respectively, and that the panel) 36 will be positioned opposite the openin 26 of frame 21, thereby providin a close panel structure for the lower hal of the closure when used as a storm or ordinary door, and that when the slidable frame 28 is moved to its lowermost position, as shown in Fi s. 4 and 5, that the panels 34, 35 and'36 will e disposed o posite the panels 22, 23 and 24, respective y,

of the fixed frame 21. In this position, the wire mesh screen panels 32 and 33 of the slidable frame 28 will be positioned opposite the o enings 25 and 26 of the fixed frame 21,v there y admitting both light and air through the wire mesh screen panel 27 of the fixed frame 21 and through the wire mesh screen panels 32 and 33 of the sliding frame 28 which are opposite the openings 25 and 26,

respectively, of the fixed frame 21.

In order to eliminate shocks to the sliding movement of the upper sliding frame 14 at the end of its sliding movement in opposite directions, I provide the inner faces of the Stiles 5 and 6 with a plurality of cushion buiers 46 and 46, respectively, which are directed into the upper frame opening 7 of the closure, or door, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Also to prevent shock to the lower sliding frame 28 when raising the same from its lower, or open screen door position, I provide the inner face of the fixed lower frame 21, adjacent the lower face of the intermediate cross rail 3 with a plurality of cushion buffers 47 which are positioned in the space 45 between the upper edge of the lower sliding frame 28 and the lower face of the intermediate cross rail 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that air can be admitted through the upper wire mesh screen panels 13 and 20, only, if so desired, when the structure is used as a screen door, or air can also be admitted through the lower wire mesh screen panels 27, 32 and 33 when the structure is used as a full screen door, or like closure. y

The many advantages of the herein described invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that a simple device forthis purpose has been disclosed, but it is to be understood that I do not desire to restrict, orlimit myself to the very details of the construction shown and described, which is merely illustrative,

it being obvious that changes, not involving the exercise of invention, may be made without coniiicting or departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a door of the class described, the combination of a door frame having an opening in the upper half thereof, of an outer frame fixed in said opening and provided with two glassed areas, a screened area adjacent one of the glassed areas and an open area intermediate the two giassed areas, a

slidable inner frame opposite the outer frame, said inner frame having two glassed areas and a screened area intermediate the two glassed areas, said slidable frame bein so arranged relative to the fixed frame that w en it is moved in one direction one of the glassed areas thereof registers with the open area of the fixed outer frame and the other glassed area of the sliding frame registers w1th the screened area of the fixed outer frame and when moved in the opposite direction the screened area of the inner frame registers with the open area of theouter frame and the two glassed areas thereof register with the two glassed areas of the outer frame and means for guiding the sliding movement of said inner frame and permitting removal thereof from the door frame for the purpose of allowing the open varea of the outer frame to serve as a service opening thus eliminating the necessity of opening the door.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed m si ature. i5 y gn- FRANK BoKAN. 

